Ken Swan designed this easy to build and useful sized 13.5-foot flat-bottomed skiff. I have built three of these boats. What makes the boat so easy to build is the outside chine logs, this saves a lot to fitting and notching. Many do not like the look of an outside chine log but after building a many skiffs in this manner I appreciate the ease of construction. The outside logs do not seem to perceptibly affect performance. My wife likes to row and this boat is her favorite for exploring the shoreline or visiting the neighbours. I built the third boat in 15 days (from first cut to the last coat of paint) hence the name of Quinzaine. (Quinzaine is the French word for fifteen days, their version of an English fortnight.) For a first time builder who wants a useful boat to row and motor this is a great design. It is a good size, as it will easily hold three. The third boat I stretched to 15.5 feet by proportionately increasing the spacing between the frames. The boat was much more stable (I could fly fish from the stern while standing up) motored better but was much slower to row. If I were to do it again I would probably do what Ken Swan did when he stretched the design and lengthen the stern on the original design by continuing the taper and rocker aft. I have seen versions of this boat with a sail in messing about in BOATS and Ken Swan confirmed with me that this boat could be a good sailing skiff.

Liz Rowing ...

The color scheme for this boat came from dust cover of Peter Maile's book Hotel Pastis

Me rowing on Beaver Lake Alberta (near Lac La Biche)

Ken Swan may be reached at:

Swan Design, P.O. Box 267, Hubbard, OR 97032

Or visit His web site Swan Boat Design

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